99--"Global Image 20.40.15 5P Coordinate Measuring Machine"

The U. S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, intends to make a firm-fixed price, sole source award to Brown & Sharpe Inc., North Kingstown, RI. GovWorks/DOI intends to issue a Purchase Order in accordance with FAR Part 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items and 6.302-1 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This non-competitive action is being issued by GovWorks under the authority of the U. S. Department of Interior Franchise Fund on behalf of the Redstone Technical Test Center. The Redstone Technical Test Center has a requirement to obtain one Global Image 20.40.15 5P Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). This requirement includes, but is not limited to, delivery, installation, set up and training at the technical test center location. The Climatic Test Branch has the requirement to perform dimensional analysis for missile systems such as CKEM, Joint Common missile and Patriot missile among others. This mission involves the use of high accuracy measuring systems. This procurement action will replace an existing CMM system allowing measurement of systems exceeding one meter in length. The Brown & Sharpe CMM system requested will be 100% compatible with software developed for the existing CMM. The current system includes over 25 custom written measurement programs which are executable on the requested CMM. It would require an estimated 800 to 1000 man-hours to re-write all of the programs. Re-programming would also have a detrimental effect on the test schedules of each affected missile system. The current data base contains over 650 legacy files that are compatible with the requested CMM. Switching to a measuring software other than PCDMIS would require the Climatic Test Branch to maintain PCDMIS software (currently yearly cost exceeding $2,000 per year) while paying additional maintenance costs for the new software. CTB has invested over 300 man-hours in formal training in the operation of the existing measurement system, at a cost exceeding $30,000. Switching to a new measurement system would require an investment in training as well as increasing the time required for measurements while engineers and technicians learn the new system. To compete this action and award to another vendor would result in loss of compatibility. It would also represent the loss of existing detailed measuring machine knowledge translating into a decrease in efficiency. Award to a vendor other than Brown & Sharpe Inc. would result in substantial duplication of costs that the Government is not expected to recover through open competition. Therefore, due to time, compatibility, and related cost issues, no other vendor other than Brown & Sharpe Inc. meets the requirements. RTTC has determined that the equipment required is available from only one responsible source and no other type of equipment will satisfy agency requirements. This is NOT a request for competitive quotes. The intent of this Special Notice is for informational purposes only. However, all information received by 4:30 p.m. EST November 30, 2004 will be considered by the Government. POC: Will Galvin, MMS, Procurement Operations Branch, 381 Elden Street, MS 2510, Herndon, VA 20170. Questions must be e-mailed to Will Galvin at contact@example.gov. TELEPHONIC QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR ACKNOWLEDGED.